There are no genetic or tagging studies informing stock structure of Pacific sanddab along the U.S. Pacific coast. Bottom trawl surveys in recent years (both NWFSC and triennial surveys) showed that Pacific sanddab are commonly caught along the coastal areas of all U.S. waters (PFMC 2016).

On Oregon’s continental shelf, Pacific sanddab is the most abundant small flatfish on sandy-bottom in the depths between 74 and 102 m. It is a popular game fish in northern California, found on menus in the Monterey Bay and San Francisco area, though more difficult to find in southern California, it is also popular along the coasts of Oregon and Washington, where it can be found more readily (Pearcy and Hancock 1978). This fishery entered full assessment by the Marine Stewardship Council system in September 2010. Click here to link to the MSC fishery page and to learn more about the MSC fishery certification unit.